St. Paul sues Maplewood after denying gun range upgrades

St. Paul sues Maplewood after denying gun range upgrades Joey Swanson KSTP FILE - St. Paul City Hall as viewed from street level. (KSTP/file) St. Paul is suing Maplewood following a decision by city leaders to revoke access to its police firearm training facility.According to the criminal complaint, the St. Paul Police Department has operated an outdoor gun range on the 2600 block of Linwood Avenue East in Maplewood for over 50 years, but it now says the training facility office needs renovation due to safety concerns.Last year, the Maplewood City Council approved a conditional use permit for the renovations, but budget constraints led it to reverse its decision.According to the lawsuit, the building in question allegedly has mold contamination, vermin infestation, a damaged roof, and nonworking bathroom facilities. The proposed replacement would include a lounge, restroom facilities, storage lockers and a kitchenette.Furthermore, the city of St. Paul claims that state law preempts Maplewood from denying improvements tied to shooting range operations.The city of Maplewood said in a statement that, because of ongoing litigation, it could not comment at this time and is working with its attorneys to respond to the complaint.